incline

American  

[in-klahyn, in-klahyn, in-klahyn] / ɪnˈklaɪn, ˈɪn klaɪn, ɪnˈklaɪn /

verb (used without object)

inclined, inclining

1. to deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.

   Synonyms:

   pitch, fall, rise, slope, lean

2. to have a mental tendency, preference, etc.; be disposed.

   We incline to rest and relaxation these days.

   Synonyms:

   lean, tend

3. to tend, in a physical sense; approximate.

   The flowers incline toward blue.

   Synonyms:

   veer, verge

4. to tend in character or in course of action.

   a political philosophy that inclines toward the conservative.

   Synonyms:

   veer, verge

5. to lean; bend.

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verb (used with object)

inclined, inclining

1. to dispose (a person) in mind, habit, etc. (usually followed byto ).

   His attitude did not incline me to help him.

2. to bow, nod, or bend (the head, body, etc.).

   He inclined his head in greeting.

3. to cause to lean or bend in a particular direction.

noun

1. an inclined surface; slope; slant.

2. Railroads.

   1. Also called incline plane.  Also called inclined plane.  a cable railroad, the gradient of which is approximately 45°.

   2. any railroad or portion of a railroad, the gradient of which is too steep for ordinary locomotive adhesion alone to be effective.

3. Mining.

   1. an angled shaft following a dipping vein.

   2. an inclined haulageway.

idioms

1. incline one's ear, to listen, especially willingly or favorably.

   to incline one's ear to another's plea.

incline British  

verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant

2. to be disposed or cause to be disposed (towards some attitude or to do something)

   he inclines towards levity

   that does not incline me to think that you are right

3. to bend or lower (part of the body, esp the head), as in a bow or in order to listen

4. to listen favourably (to)

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noun

1. an inclined surface or slope; gradient

2. short for inclined railway

Other Word Forms

• incliner noun
• overincline verb
• reincline verb

Etymology

Origin of incline

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inclinen, from Latin inclīnāre, equivalent to in- in- ² + -clīnāre “to bend” ( lean ¹ ); replacing Middle English enclinen, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Musically inclined, Douglas and James both spend time at the keyboard, accompanying themselves on songs that give form to their amorphous inner lives.

From Los Angeles Times

The Bucks don’t sound inclined to want to move Antetokounmpo and he hasn’t requested a trade.

From Los Angeles Times

The Arizona boys don’t seem inclined to get in over their shaggy heads.

From The Wall Street Journal

Typically, the more controversial a celebrity becomes, the more they might be inclined to hide away — at least until people’s attention has shifted.

From Los Angeles Times

A couple of days later aboard Air Force One, the president said he wasn’t inclined to allow Exxon into Venezuela.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bend
• impel
• persuade
• predispose
• prompt
• sway